Chapter 13 of Paul's letter to the Roman believers is one of the most difficult to teach, to understand and to fully agree with - probably then for the Jews and Christians in Rome because of Nero, for the Jews in Jerusalem because of the corruption of the high priest and his henchmen and today because of our corrupt and deceptive federal government.
Romans 12:14-21: Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them. Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all! Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone. Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, “I will take revenge; I will pay them back,” says the Lord. Instead, “If your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals of shame on their heads.” Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.
(1) Obey the government, for God is the one who put it there. All governments have been placed in power by God.
- Examine the following two lists of verses dealing with our relationship to government and decide why sometimes we're told to obey (submit) and sometimes to disobey (refuse to submit) to higher authorities!
- Other places besides here where God said to obey (submit to) the
governing authorities:
- Matthew 17:24-27: On their arrival in Capernaum, the tax collectors for the Temple tax came to Peter and asked him, "Doesn't your teacher pay the Temple tax?" "Of course he does," Peter replied. Then he went into the house to talk to Jesus about it. But before he had a chance to speak, Jesus asked him, "What do you think, Peter? Do kings tax their own people or the foreigners they have conquered?" "They tax the foreigners," Peter replied. "Well, then," Jesus said, "the citizens are free! However, we don't want to offend them, so go down to the lake and throw in a line. Open the mouth of the first fish you catch, and you will find a coin. Take the coin and pay the tax for both of us."
- Luke 20:22-25: Now tell us -- is it right to pay taxes to the Roman government or not?" He saw through their trickery and said, "Show me a Roman coin. Whose picture and title are stamped on it?" "Caesar's," they replied. "Well then," he said, "give to Caesar what belongs to him. But everything that belongs to God must be given to God."
- John 19:11: Then Jesus said, "You would have no power over me at all unless it were given to you from above. So the one who brought me to you has the greater sin."
- Titus 3:1: Remind your people to submit to the government and its officers. They should be obedient, always ready to do what is good.
- 1 Timothy 2:1-2: I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. As you make your requests, plead for God's mercy upon them, and give thanks. Pray this way for kings and all others who are in authority, so that we can live in peace and quietness, in godliness and dignity.
- 1 Peter 2:13-17: For the Lord's sake, accept all authority -- the king as head of state, and the officials he has appointed. For the king has sent them to punish all who do wrong and to honor those who do right. It is God's will that your good lives should silence those who make foolish accusations against you. You are not slaves; you are free. But your freedom is not an excuse to do evil. You are free to live as God's slaves. Show respect for everyone. Love your Christian brothers and sisters. Fear God. Show respect for the king.
- Examples where God said NOT to obey the governing authorities:
- Exodus 17,21: But because the midwives feared God, they refused to obey the king and allowed the boys to live, too. ... And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families of their own.
- 1 Kings 18:1-16: After many months passed, in the
third year of the drought, the LORD said to Elijah, "Go
and present yourself to King Ahab. Tell him that I will
soon send rain!" So Elijah went to appear before Ahab. Meanwhile,
the famine had become very severe in Samaria. So Ahab summoned Obadiah,
who was in charge of the palace. (Now Obadiah was a devoted follower of
the LORD. Once when Jezebel had tried to kill all the LORD's prophets,
Obadiah had hidden one hundred of them in two caves. He had put
fifty prophets in each cave and had supplied them with food and water.)
Ahab said to Obadiah, "We must check every spring and valley to see
if we can find enough grass to save at least some of my horses and mules."
So they divided the land between them. Ahab went one way by himself, and
Obadiah went another way by himself. As Obadiah was walking along, he
saw Elijah coming toward him. Obadiah recognized him at once
and fell to the ground before him. "Is it really you, my lord Elijah?"
he asked. "Yes, it is," Elijah replied. "Now go and tell
your master I am here." "Oh, sir," Obadiah protested, "what
harm have I done to you that you are sending me to my death at the hands
of Ahab? For I swear by the LORD your God that the king has searched every
nation and kingdom on earth from end to end to find you. And each time
when he was told, 'Elijah isn't here,' King Ahab forced the king of that
nation to swear to the truth of his claim. And now you say, 'Go and tell
your master that Elijah is here'! But as soon as I leave you, the Spirit
of the LORD will carry you away to who knows where. When Ahab comes and
cannot find you, he will kill me. Yet I have been a true servant
of the LORD all my life. Has no one told you, my lord, about
the time when Jezebel was trying to kill the LORD's prophets?
I hid a hundred of them in two caves and supplied them with food and water.
And now you say, 'Go and tell your master that Elijah is here'! Sir, if
I do that, I'm as good as dead!" But Elijah said, "I swear by
the LORD Almighty, in whose presence I stand, that I will present myself
to Ahab today." So Obadiah went to tell Ahab that Elijah had come,
and Ahab went out to meet him.
- Then follows the story of the contest between Elijah's God and Baal.
- Esther 4:16: "Go and gather together all the Jews of Susa and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will do the same. And then, though it is against the law, I will go in to see the king. If I must die, I am willing to die."
- Daniel 2:37-38: Your Majesty, you are a king over many kings. The God of heaven has given you sovereignty, power, strength, and honor. He has made you the ruler over all the inhabited world and has put even the animals and birds under your control. You are the head of gold.
- Daniel 3:12-18: But there are some Jews -- Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego -- whom you have put in charge of the province of Babylon. They have defied Your Majesty by refusing to serve your gods or to worship the gold statue you have set up." Then Nebuchadnezzar flew into a rage and ordered Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to be brought before him. When they were brought in, Nebuchadnezzar said to them, "Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you refuse to serve my gods or to worship the gold statue I have set up? I will give you one more chance. If you bow down and worship the statue I have made when you hear the sound of the musical instruments, all will be well. But if you refuse, you will be thrown immediately into the blazing furnace. What god will be able to rescue you from my power then?" Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. But even if he doesn't, Your Majesty can be sure that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up."
- Daniel 6:10: But when Daniel learned that the law had been signed, he went home and knelt down as usual in his upstairs room, with its windows open toward Jerusalem. He prayed three times a day, just as he had always done, giving thanks to his God.
- Acts 4:19: But Peter and John replied, "Do you think God wants us to obey you rather than him?
- Acts 5:29: But Peter and the apostles replied, "We must obey God rather than human authority.
- Hebrews 11:23-24: It was by faith that Moses' parents hid him for three months. They saw that God had given them an unusual child, and they were not afraid of what the king might do. It was by faith that Moses, when he grew up, refused to be treated as the son of Pharaoh's daughter.
- Douglas J. Moo, Romans, Life
Application Bible Commentary CD (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale, 2000):
- “Paul appears to be demanding that every person always obey whatever any governmental authority tells that person to do, for God has appointed every authority that exists; to obey God, we must obey his appointed representatives. Yet believers in every generation have quailed before the prospect of obeying orders from what appear to be evil, even demonic, rulers - Hitler, of course, is the classic modern example. Moreover, Scripture itself seems to present disobedience of secular rulers as, at least in some cases, a virtue. The classic instance is Peter and John, whom Luke apparently commends for responding to the Sanhedrin’s command not to preach about Jesus with these words: ‘Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to obey you rather than God. For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard’ (Acts 4:19–20; cf. 5:29).”
- Most, but not all, of the Jews of the time hated being under the Roman yoke and expected the messiah to throw out the Romans and sit on the throne of David - one of the reasons they rejected Jesus as Messiah. As a result, they were ready revolt at the call of every one who cried, “I am the Messiah”, such as Simon bar Kokhba in 132 AD. They were continually breaking out into disturbances and riots, which led to their expulsion from Rome by Tiberius in 19 AD and by Claudius in 49 AD, and, finally, to the utter destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD.
- The reigning emperor was to be obeyed by the Roman Christians. But if he transcended his authority, and required them to worship idols, they were to obey God rather than man. This is the limitation to all human authority. Whenever obedience to man is inconsistent with obedience to God, then disobedience becomes a duty.
- The Christian religion was designed to extend throughout the world. Yet it contemplated the rearing of a kingdom amid other kingdoms, an empire amid other empires. Christians professed supreme allegiance to the Lord Jesus Christ; he was their Lawgiver, their Sovereign, their Judge. It became, therefore, a question of great importance and difficulty, “what kind” of allegiance they were to render to earthly magistrates.
- At the time in which he wrote this Epistle, the Roman Empire was agitated with civil dissensions. One emperor followed another in rapid succession. The throne was often seized, not by right, but by crime. Different claimants would rise, and their claims would excite controversy. The object of the apostle was to prevent Christians from entering into those disputes, and from taking an active part in a political controversy. Besides, the throne had been “usurped” by the reigning emperors, and there was a prevalent disposition to rebel against a tyrannical government. Claudius had been put to death by poison; Caligula in a violent manner-even to the point of killing his own mother; Nero was a tyrant; and amidst these agitations, and crimes, and revolutions, the apostle wished to guard Christians from taking an active part in political affairs.
- C. E. B. Cranfield in Romans, A Shorter Commentary, states: “Paul has in mind, of course, an authoritarian state, in which the Christian’s ‘subjection’ to the authorities is limited to respecting them, obeying them so far as such obedience does not conflict with God’s laws, and seriously and responsibly disobeying them when it does, paying them direct and indirect taxes willingly, since no government can function without resources, and–a very important element which is not mentioned here but may be supplied from 1 Timothy 2 – praying persistently for them.”
- Paul’s main concern was the testimony of the Gospel. Many of Paul’s admonitions about the behavior of Christians in a heathen society are given with that in mind. Christianity in Paul’s day was considered to be a Jewish sect. According to The Pulpit Commentary a group of Jews in Rome had begun an insurrection, shortly before Paul wrote this epistle, which prompted the Emperor Claudius to expel all Jews from Rome. Christians in Rome were under suspicion.
- When Paul wrote these words, who was in power in Rome? A wicked ruler named
Nero, who hated Christians, had them rounded up, dipped in tallow, tied to
stakes and burned like candles in his garden. He ordered Rome set on fire
and then blamed the Christians, setting off the first wave of official persecution.
We’ve largely forgotten how wicked and pagan ancient Rome really was.
Abortion flourished, homosexuality was accepted as normal, and the masses
worshipped Caesar as Lord. Sorcery and black magic abounded. No government
in America has ever been as pagan as the government of ancient Rome. And,
this is the government that executed Paul. Yet Paul said all authority comes
from God.
- Yet, the Roman government was an essential factor in the spread of Christianity. Before then, travel outside of Israel would have been extremely dangerous, because of highwaymen. Before then, there was not a highway system. Before then, there was no peace.
- Psalm 75:6-7: For no one on earth -- from east or west,
or even from the wilderness -- can raise another person up. It is God
alone who judges; he decides who will rise and who will fall.
- He is Unseen Hand at work in the nations of the world, including ours.
- In general, Christians who live consistent Spirit-filled lives need not
fear governments. But, what if the government is openly opposed to Christ,
such as in most Muslim countries, North Korea and increasingly here in the
USA in our schools and elsewhere? Then the principle established by the apostles
in Acts 5:29 must be followed.
- We must obey God rather than human authority
- http://chalcedon.edu/: "Romans 13:1-10 addresses our responsibility to the authority of human government and to the law of God. Unfortunately, many Christians use this passage to cave in to anything the government tells them to do. They become like sheep (also known as "sheeple") headed for the slaughter. I think this is very dangerous behavior. In the United States and Canada, the government works for us -- not the other way around. Absolutely, we need to pay our taxes and adhere to the laws of the land in order to maintain civil peace and an orderly society. But, when the government oversteps its bounds, I believe we, as Christians and people who live in a republic, have the obligation to act against abuses of power. This is becoming increasingly important as our rights and freedoms are being systematically stripped from us."
- The fundamental confession of the early church was ‘Jesus is Lord’ (Philippians 2:9-11).
- Did Elijah violate God's principle of submission to authority when he openly challenged Ahab and Jezebel? Did David violate God's principle of submission to authority when he refused to surrender to Saul's troops? Did Daniel violate God's principle of submission to authority when he disobeyed the king's law to not pray audibly to God? Did the three Hebrew children violate God's principle of submission to authority when they refused to bow to the image of the state? Did John the Baptist violate God's principle of submission to authority when he publicly scolded King Herod for his infidelity? Did Simon Peter and the other Apostles violate God's principle of submission to authority when they refused to stop preaching on the streets of Jerusalem? Did Paul violate God's principle of submission to authority when he refused to obey those authorities who demanded that he abandon his missionary work? In fact, Paul spent almost as much time in jail as he did out of jail.
- No authority except from God: God appoints a nation’s leaders, but not always to bless the people. Sometimes it is to judge the people or to ripen the nation for judgment.
- Daniel 2:21: He determines the course of world events; he removes kings and sets others on the throne. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the scholars.
- Today, where is this all-powerful empire that tolerated and even encouraged and participated in such sins as murder and homosexuality, destroyed the temple, crucified Jesus, persecuted the Jews and killed Christians? What happened to the priests and others who brought Jesus to the Romans to be killed? What happened to the government that killed millions of "defectives' and Jews? What happened to the Soviet Union? God judged them and they were destroyed. What is happening in Europe after importing so many who violently oppose freedom and Christianity? What will happen to the Roman church that killed so many of God's saints? What will happen to the USA that now applauds sin and is becoming increasingly like Nazi Germany and the USSR? If God punished the others, why would He not judge our country too?
(2) So those who refuse to obey the laws of the land are refusing to obey God, and punishment will follow.
(3) For the authorities do not frighten people who are doing right, but they frighten those who do wrong. So do what they say, and you will get along well.
- The terror or fear required in verse 3 is a religious one, God-centered, because it is God’s order and God’s restraint on sin that is at stake. This terror is thus with respect to God and His law order, not man’s. Hence, this terror must be aroused in evil-doers, not the godly.
(4) The authorities are sent by God to help you. But if you are doing something wrong, of course you should be afraid, for you will be punished. The authorities are established by God for that very purpose, to punish those who do wrong.
- God appoints a nation’s leaders, but not always to bless the people. Sometimes it is to judge the people or to ripen the nation for judgment.
- Paul is saying that the primary purpose of the government is to punish those who do wrong. The problem is the definition of "something wrong."
(5) So you must obey the government for two reasons: to keep from being punished and to keep a clear conscience.
- Paul’s idea is that Christians should be the best citizens of all. Even though they are loyal to God before they are loyal to the state, Christians are good citizens because they are honest, give no trouble to the state, pay their taxes, and - most importantly - pray for the state and the rulers.
(6) Pay your taxes, too, for these same reasons. For government workers need to be paid so they can keep on doing the work God intended them to do.
- Matthew 22:17-21: But Jesus knew their evil
motives. "You hypocrites!" he said. "Whom are you trying to
fool with your trick questions? Here, show me the Roman coin used
for the tax." When they handed him the coin, he asked, "Whose
picture and title are stamped on it?" "Caesar's," they replied.
"Well, then," he said, "give to Caesar what belongs
to him. But everything that belongs to God must be given
to God."
- By implication, Romans 13:6 also says that the taxes collected are to be used by government to get the job done of restraining evil and keeping an orderly society - not to enrich the government officials themselves.
(7) Give to everyone what you owe them: Pay your taxes and import duties, and give respect and honor to all to whom it is due.
- We honor the office although we may not respect certain office holders such as Nero, for example, but also some of the present and past holders of office in the USA and the states. You can fill in the blanks yourself of the corrupt and incompetent "rulers" we have now and have had in the past.
(8) Pay all your debts, except the debt of love for others. You can never finish paying that! If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill all the requirements of God's law.
- Galatians 5:14: For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: "Love your neighbor as yourself."
(9) For the commandments against adultery and murder and stealing and coveting -- and any other commandment -- are all summed up in this one commandment: "Love your neighbor as yourself."
(10) Love does no wrong to anyone, so love satisfies all of God's requirements.
(11) Another reason for right living is that you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for the coming of our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.
(12) The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So don't live in darkness. Get rid of your evil deeds. Shed them like dirty clothes. Clothe yourselves with the armor of right living, as those who live in the light.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:1-10: I really don't need to write to you about how and when all this will happen, dear brothers and sisters. For you know quite well that the day of the Lord will come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night. When people are saying, "All is well; everything is peaceful and secure," then disaster will fall upon them as suddenly as a woman's birth pains begin when her child is about to be born. And there will be no escape. But you aren't in the dark about these things, dear brothers and sisters, and you won't be surprised when the day of the Lord comes like a thief. For you are all children of the light and of the day; we don't belong to darkness and night. So be on your guard, not asleep like the others. Stay alert and be sober. Night is the time for sleep and the time when people get drunk. But let us who live in the light think clearly, protected by the body armor of faith and love, and wearing as our helmet the confidence of our salvation. For God decided to save us through our Lord Jesus Christ, not to pour out his anger on us. He died for us so that we can live with him forever, whether we are dead or alive at the time of his return.
- Ephesians 6:13-17: Use every piece of God's armor to resist the enemy in the time of evil, so that after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the sturdy belt of truth and the body armor of God's righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News, so that you will be fully prepared. In every battle you will need faith as your shield to stop the fiery arrows aimed at you by Satan. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
- 2 Timothy 4:1-8: And so I solemnly urge you before God and before Christ Jesus -- who will someday judge the living and the dead when he appears to set up his Kingdom: Preach the word of God. Be persistent, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching. For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to right teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever they want to hear. They will reject the truth and follow strange myths. But you should keep a clear mind in every situation. Don't be afraid of suffering for the Lord. Work at bringing others to Christ. Complete the ministry God has given you. As for me, my life has already been poured out as an offering to God. The time of my death is near. I have fought a good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. And now the prize awaits me -- the crown of righteousness that the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on that great day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his glorious return.
- We must cast off before we can put on. "The rags of sin must come off if we put on the robe of Christ. There must be a taking away of the love of sin, there must be a renouncing of the practices and habits of sin, or else a man cannot be a, Christian. It will be an idle attempt to try and wear religion as a sort of celestial overall over the top of old sins." (Spurgeon)
(13) We should be decent and true in everything we do, so that everyone can approve of our behavior. Don't participate in wild parties and getting drunk, or in adultery and immoral living, or in fighting and jealousy.
- Ephesians 4:1: Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God.
- Ephesians 5:3: Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God's people.
- Titus 2:12-13: And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with self-control, right conduct, and devotion to God, while we look forward to that wonderful event when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed.
(14) But let the Lord Jesus Christ take control of you, and don't think of ways to indulge your evil desires.
- KJV: But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof.
- Colossians 3:9-10: In its place you have clothed yourselves with a brand-new nature that is continually being renewed as you learn more and more about Christ, who created this new nature within you. Don't lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old evil nature and all its wicked deeds.
NOTES:
- Unless otherwise noted, the scripture version used is the New Living Translation, Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois.
- Disclaimer: Source material for this study has been gleaned from many different sources. I have attempted to acknowledge these sources at romansoverview.blogspot.com/2012/12/romans-references.html
- Index to all our studies are at http://oakview-bible-fellowship.blogspot.com/
